Glove-cleaning device



NOV. 19, 1929. J; T|ERNEY 1,736,679

GLOVE CLEANING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1928 3 I I gokz fi %'erne y L f7.0414224 4? My: 6 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1929 YATES ware r'rNr FFEQJOHN J. TIER/HEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GLOVE-CLEANING DEVICE This invention relates generally to the art ofglove cleaning, and has more particular reference to a device forholding the gloves during cleaning.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the classmentioned of simple durable construction, desirable and eflicient inaction, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The device consists of dummy hand structures formed of stiff flexiblematerial, such as rubber, and provided with a plurality of pleats so asto be readily adaptable to gloves of various sizes. \Vithin the fingersof these 15 dummy structures, stiffening rods are arranged, these rodsbeing preferably attached to the finger tips at one of their ends andextended to the palm portions of the dummy structures and here the rodsare joined to 20 each other. The dummy hand structures are verticallysupported by frame structures. Inflating means may be connected withthese hand structures, so as to permit gloves to be better held. Thesaid stiffening rods may be 35 adjustably connected at their palm endsso as to direct the fingers of the dummy hand in a desirable spreadcondition.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a material partof thisdisclosure Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a device constructedaccording to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a dummy hand of the device, aportion thereof is broken away to disclose the interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but disclosing a modified form of the dummyhand.

Fig. at is a perspective view of a base structure of modified form forsupporting the dummy hands.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another modified form of supportingstructure for the dummy hand.

Fig. 6 is a side view of still a further modified form of supportingstructure for the dummy hands, a portion thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view of a dummy handstructure at tached to a supporting structure.

8 is a detail side view of a modified form of connection between thestiffening push rods of the dummy hands.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a dummy hand structureformed from stiff flexible material, preferably rubber and is of hollowconstruction, and having finger portions 11, a palm portion 12 and awrist portion 13 closed at its lower end as at 13. A plurality of pleats14 are formed in the material of the said hand structure and extendsinwards from the outer surface thereof. stiffening rods 15 arranged,within the hand structure, extend from the finger tips to the palmportion 12, and the ends at the linger tips are attached to the fingertips as at 16, preferably by vulcanization. The palm ends of the rodsare attached to each other, as at 17, by vulcanization. A stiffeningpush rod 18 is arranged within the hand structure and attached to thetip end of the thumb, as at 19, the other end 20 being loose in theglove, that is, it is attached just at one end. An aperture 21 is formedin the closed end 13 of the wristportion 13. An air inlet valve ishoused within stem which is engaged thru the aperture/21 and thus heldby nut 51 threadedly engaging the stem'and clamping hand end 13 againsta flange 52 integral with the stem.

A base member 22 has a pair of frusto conical members 23 attached to itstop side. These members 23 are formed with central apertures 23accommodating the stems 50 when the dummy hand structures 10 are placedupon the members 23. Screws 2 L threadedly engage the frusto conicalmembers 23 and are abutable against the stems 50 to hold the'handstructures against displacement.

An auxiliary base 25 connected along one side to the base 22 by hinges26, has a threaded member 27 pivotally attached, as at 28 on the sideremote from the hinges 26. A wing nut 29 engages the threaded member,and serves as a clamp to hold the bases 22 and 25 together. Gloves thathave been cleaned, may be clamped between the bases for pressingpurpose.

In Fig. 3 the rods are connected at their palm ends by a joiner rod 3Oattached to the palm shown. The rods 15 are nearly parallel so that thefingers 11 are also nearly parallel. Rod 18 is so positioned that thethumb is also substantially parallel to the fingers. The end of rod 18remote from tip 19 is detached from the palm portion 12, as at 20'.

Fig. 4 shows bases 22 and 25, and the frusto conical members 23positioned on base member 22'. The member 23 is provided with the screws24.

Fig. 5 shows a base member provided with the frusto conical members 23.A clamp arm 32 projects from the base 30, a clamp screw 33 engages thearm 32. This dummy hand supporting structure may be clamped to a benchor table.

Fig. 6 showsanother supporting structure, which consists of a basemember 34 provided with a projecting rod 35. A tube 36 slidably arrangedon the rod, and provided with a set screw 37 engaging the rod. Anauxiliary base member 30 is connected to the top of the tube 36, andthis member 30 is provided with arms 31 for supporting the frustoconical members.

In Fig. 7 the dot dash lines 39 indicate a rubber bulb provided with anair inlet valve 40, and connected to the inlet end of stem 50. The bulb39 may be repeatedly compressed so as to inflate the dummy handstructure. This should be done before the dummy hand struclgure isarranged on the frusto conical memers.

In Fig. 8 the joiner rod 30 is provided with a dove tailed groove 43,and the rods 15 are formed with dove tailed tongue ends slidably engagedin the groove 43. Wires 44 with twisted ends 45 encircle the joiner rod30, and pass thru apertures 46 in the rods 15*, so as to hold the rods15 as desired relative to each other. Right hand studs 47 and left handstuds 48 project from adjacent faces of the rods 15, and collars49threadedly engage these studs, so that as the collars are turned therods 15 are bent at angular relations to each other, which changes thespaced relation of the fingers of the dummy hand structures.

In operation gloves to be cleaned are placed on the hand dummies, whichare slightly inflated before forcing the dummies in the gloves. Thehand-dummies are then attached to the frusto conical bases, and cleaningfluids applied to the gloves.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changesand modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a glove cleaning device, a dummy hand structure of hollowconstruction formed with a plurality of pleats extending inwards fromthe outer surface for aiding in the collapsing of the hand structure andpermitting expansion of the hand structure without stretching of thematerial of the hand structure.

2. In a device of the class described, a dummy hand structure of hollowconstruction, a joiner rod with a dove-tailed groove disposed within thepalm portion of the dummy hand, rods engaging in the fingers of thedummy hand and having tongues engaging in the said groove, means forholding the tongues stationary in the groove, and means for holding therods at adjusted angular positions relative to each other for holdingthe fingers of the dummy hand in desired spread conditions. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN J. TIERNEY.

